"You've been writing your way through the book. I do hope you have written some pieces that you've enjoyed and that you now have a fat notebook bursting with ideas. Continue to explore them. Keep adding to the notebook. Keep writing. You will make something beautiful."

From: " 'A Final Note' in The Writer's Idea Book "

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The Writer's Idea Book is not a 'page-turner'. It is a book you will find yourself putting down time and time again. Early in your reading you will wonder why anyone would write a book that is so difficult to simply read.

Then you realize. . .the author did it on purpose. Jack Heffron wants you to be frustrated at simply reading his book. He wants you to stop reading. Put down the book, pick up your pen, your pencil and write! He wants you to quit talking about it, quit dreaming about it, quit playing at it, quit worrying about it. Just write! Just do it!

Write about 'where' you write, write about yourself, write about things you have done with your life. Write about the dreams you have lived, write about the dreams you have not yet fulfilled.

What's that? You don't know what to write about? Nothing exciting has ever happened to you? Your imagination has shrank to nothing since the truth about Santa Claus broke your heart?

Oh boy. Oh girl. You need this book.


— Table of Contents —
  Introduction
  Part I   Bending and Stretching
  Part II   Exploring
  Part III  Finding Form
  Part IV  Assessing and Developing
  Index


In his Introduction to The Writer's Idea Book, Jack Heffron lays out his belief of what writing is: "An act of hope. An act of courage. An act of joy and celebration." Heffron reminds us that writing should be fun. He briefly outlines his plan to help us forget the 'chore' of writing and re-discover the fun of wanting to write. The fun of writing.

A freelance writer and author, Jack Heffron has worked as Editorial Director for several publishing companies, has been an associate editor of Story magazine, and has taught writing for more than 17 years. He has had many short stories and nonfiction works published during his writing career.

In this 'Idea Book' Heffron utilizes prompts, or short writing instructions, to guide the writer (the reader of his book, for they should be writing as they read) in exploring a wide range of types of writing including fiction, nonfiction, poetry and others. (The cover boasts: "Includes More than 400 Prompts" At just over 260 pages, nearly every page has at least one prompt, if not many more.) The writer responds to these prompts by writing a piece as directed by the prompt. The prompts vary widely in tone and content. Some might be quickly completed in a few minutes while others might take days, weeks, months to accomplish.

Some are amusing and expansive:
PROMPT: "Write about what arouses you sexually. Take time to consider what popular media tells you arouses you sexually, and then dismiss it. . . Who were you with?. . . Where were you? What triggered your reaction? How did that person make you feel? Randy, yes, but exactly how? Where did you specifically like to be touched? How did that make you feel? Write a few of these scenes, and then give yourself a break. You may need it."

While others are more serious and pointed:
PROMPT: "Put a character in a place where he doesn't speak the native language. Explore the problems this barrier creates."

But all are written with a definite 'goal' related to the writing topic being discussed at the moment. And each is written in a tone that supports you as you read and write, encourages you to do your best, genuinely cares that you succeed as you continue writing as you read through the book.


Part I Bending and Stretching reminds us that writing can be tough. Finding the time, finding the place, finding the idea, finding the inspiration. It is here that Heffron begins to bully his reader. Through a seemingly endless number of prompts we are told to 'stop reading and start writing'. The reader is told in one prompt to "list the positive messages you have received about writing. . .." Another prompt declares that ". . .writing is hard". "Write it down." he orders. "Then write about how you're going to make writing happen."

In this section, Heffron introduces us to the "enemies of creativity", the slayers of a writer. "The Procrastinator, the Victim, the Talker, the Critic, the Judge, the Author, the Capricious Guest" are all introduced. Recognize any of them? They are not your partner, not your kids, not your boss, not your co-workers. Any number of these enemies are inside you. Perhaps they take turns visiting you and your writing. Each of them schemes to keep you from your writing. To keep you from your dreams. Heffron does a good job of helping you learn to recognize your personal 'writing enemies'. And he does a great job of providing prompts that help you beat them down.


Part II Exploring examines the reader's life and the 'richness' found in it as prompts guide us in uncovering that 'richness'. Self, family, friends, likes, dislikes, ethnicity, where you grew up, where you live now, where you would like to live, where you would like to vacation, your philosophy of life, your ideal job, your love life, your sex life, the angry you, the famous you, secrets you hide, guilt you carry, hopes you hold dear, your spiritual beliefs. . .all these are explored through numerous prompts that make you examine all these and many more topics in ways you would never imagine on your own.


Part III Finding Form challenges the writer (through that ubiquitous 'prompt') to examine her work through different forms, voices, points-of-view, characters, framings, locations, descriptions, openings, endings and on and on. Examples from published literature abound in this section as simple examples of the point Heffron is discussing.

From re-telling a fairy tale, placing it in today's world, to writing real events as if they were fiction, to writing about a wild coincidence in a believable manner. . .all these prompts challenge the writer to move beyond his normal boundaries.


Part IV Assessing and Developing guides the reader/writer in considering how a piece works in toto. Prompts guide the writer in examining her works to find ". . .what's at stake for the characters. . .in the piece?" Why should your reader care? Heffron urges you through prompts to 'raise the stakes', both for your reader and for you as a writer.

Other sections prompt the writer to add more elements to a piece, to make it more valuable, interesting, (yes, helpful), to those reading. A key element of this section is to not be satisfied with the first attempt at writing a scene, a moment, a character. The prompts urge us to ". . .experiment, try new angles, new voices."


The Index guides the writer back to every author, novel, short story, writing term, technique, concept, etc. discussed in the book. Excellent to find your way back to that prompt that you have 'misplaced'.


— What's good about this book? —

The Writer's Idea Book is stuffed with prompts. Prompts that have 'context', prompts that address specific writing problems, writing topics. Prompts that have 'meat'.

The Writer's Idea Book is stuffed with enthusiasm, Jack Heffron acts at times like your personal cheerleader. Encouraging you, prodding you, sparking your imagination in ways you never would have imagined on your own.

The Writer's Idea Book will give you tools that you can use beyond the covers of this book. Tools that will make you a better writer, novice or veteran.


— What's bad about this book? —

Ummm. . ., I'm thinking !!


— The Bottom Line —

You need this one on your bookshelf. Someday you will need a 'spark', a kick in your writer's block. You'll be glad you have this one to 'jump-start' your writing.



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"Just the facts, ma'am"

Title: The Writer's Idea Book: How to Develop Great Ideas for Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Screenplays
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
Copyright: 2000 by Jack Heffron
Pages: 262
ISBN #: 1-58297-179-X
Ages recommended: Teens and older


Reference websites:
http://www.writersdigest.com

Recommended: Yes